Electrical extension cord organizer and storage device

ABSTRACT

Electrical cord organization and storage devices are provided which include a central body ring having a generally U-shaped cross-section and establishes a concave cradle to receiving an electrical cord therein. The central body ring may be formed such that it includes an opposed pair of radiused end surfaces and an opposed pair of convexly curved side surfaces having ends jointed to the end surfaces. The radiused end surfaces and the convexly curved side surfaces will therefore define a central opening having a generally symmetrical oblong, oval or elliptical shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______ filed concurrently herewith (Atty. Dkt. BHD-6773-0003), the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.

FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to devices that allow a user to organize and store a wound supply of cord thereon, e.g., conventional electrical extension cord.

BACKGROUND

Electrical extension cords are typically required in order to provide electrical power from an electrical power outlet to an electrically powered device or tool that is positioned some distance from the outlet. During periods of non-use, however, the electrical extension cords must be organized and stored. In this regard, uses may coil or wind the cord upon itself and then secure the coiled cord bundle by some clamp or tie device or by wrapping a tail length of the cord around the coiled cord bundle. Alternatively, various cord reels are known whereby organizational and storage devices will be stored in a generally circular coil until further use.

One problem with storing conventional electrical extension cords, e.g., conventional 12/3 or 14/3 AWG cords, on a circular cord reel is that the cord can adopt a coiled shape memory (especially that portion of the cord which is more tightly wound near the center of the coil) which makes it difficult for the user to then use in an uncoiled condition. Furthermore, coiled cord bundles which are stored as such will tend to allow the cord to be tangled when it is uncoiled.

It would therefore be desirable if an extension cord organizer and storage device could be provided that allows for the extension cord to be wound into a compact coil yet minimize (if not prevent entirely) shape memory being imparted to the cord. It is towards providing such improvements that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the invention described herein, an electrical cord organization and storage device is provided which includes a central body ring having a generally U-shaped cross-section and establishes a concave cradle to receiving an electrical cord therein. The central body ring may be formed such that it includes an opposed pair of radiused end surfaces and an opposed pair of convexly curved side surfaces having ends jointed to the end surfaces. The radiused end surfaces and the convexly curved side surfaces will therefore define a central opening having a generally symmetrical oblong, oval or elliptical shape.

A support panel may be positioned near one of the radiused end surfaces and extending into the central opening of the central body ring. The support panel may include a notch (e.g., a V-shaped notch) that accepts a protuberance to thereby allow the device to be hung to a structure during use or storage.

A pair of opposed planar flange walls may be attached to opposite sides of the central body ring. According to certain embodiments, each of the planar flange walls may include a smoothly rounded edge bead around an outer perimetrical edge thereof.

The central body ring may include a cut-out region to allow a length of the electrical cord to extend therethrough (e.g., to allow a male or female plug at an end of the cord to be capable of attached to a corresponding female or male plug, respectively, during use).

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective as viewed from above of an extension cord organizer and storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are right and left side elevational views thereof, respectively;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are back side and front side plan views thereof, respectively;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are top and bottom elevational views thereof, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a perspective thereof as viewed from below;

FIG. 9 is an environmental perspective view thereof showing a supply of electrical extension cord wound around the device;

FIG. 10 front elevational view of the device and an exemplary manner in which the device can be removably associated with support structure during use or during storage; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective schematic view showing how the device can be used in practice to wind/unwind an electrical extension cord relative to the storage cradle thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-8 depict an electrical extension cord organizer and storage device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The device 10 includes a central body ring 12 having a generally U-shaped cross-section which thereby establishes a concave cradle 14 for receiving the electrical extension cord EC (not shown in FIGS. 1-8, but see FIGS. 9-11. The central body ring 12 thereby defines a central elongate central opening 12-1 having relatively small radius end surfaces 12-2 a, 12-2 b and opposed convexly curved side surfaces 12-3 a, 12-3 b. The end and side surfaces 12-2 a, 12-2 b and 12-3 a, 12-3 b each conform generally to the generatrices of cylindrical surfaces. However, as depicted, the convexly curved side surfaces 12-3 a, 12-3 b may have a radius that is substantially larger than the radius of the end surfaces 12-2 a, 12-2 b. By way of example, a ratio R_(s)/R_(e) of the radius (R_(s)) of the convexly curved side surfaces 12-3 a, 12-3 b to the radius (R_(e)) of the end surfaces is between about 10:1 to about 30:1, e.g., between about 15:1 to about 25:1 or typically about 20:1. The central opening 12-1 defined collectively by the surfaces 12-2 a, 12-2 b, 12-3 a, 12-3 b will thereby have a generally symmetrical oblong, oval or elliptical shape.

An opposed pair of planar flange walls 16, 18 extend outwardly from the opposed perimetrical edges of the central body ring 12. The dimension by which the flange walls 16, 18 extend outwardly from the central body ring 12 will determine the relative depth of the cradle 14 and thereby determine the total length of extension cord EC that may be wound around the central body ring 12 and retained in the cradle 14. Thus, conventional lengths of the extension cord EC on the order of 50′, 100′ or more can be accommodated in the cradle 14 in dependence upon the dimension of the flange walls 16, 18. The side walls 16, 18 may thus be provided with dimensions of 4″ to 10″, typically 6″ to 8″ as measured from the junction with the central body ring 12 to the terminal outer edge thereof may be provided as desired to accommodate different lengths of extension cord EC. The flange walls 16, 18 have respective smoothly rounded edge beads 16 a, 18 a around the outer perimetrical edges thereof to minimize contact resistance to the electrical cord EC when the latter is being wound/unwound relative to the device 10.

The central body ring 12 includes a cut-out region 12 a defining a space to allow a tail end of the electrical cord EC to extend therethrough as depicted in FIGS. 9-11. In this way, a relatively short tail section of the electrical cord EC may extend through the central body ring 12 so as to allow access to the male plug MP for connection with a female socket. The female plug FP at the opposite end of the electrical cord EC may thus be unwound from the organizer and storage device 10 to provide power extension to an electrically powered device (not shown).

A support panel 20 is integrally (unitarily) provided with the flange wall 16 and defines a centrally located notch cut-out 20 a to allow the device 10 to be supported by a nail, hook or similar supporting protuberance SP during use or when being stored (see FIG. 10).

As is schematically depicted in FIG. 11, the device 10 during use allows the user to insert a forearm into the central opening 12-1 such that the other arm may be used to wind/unwind the electrical cord EC as may be desired. Moreover, the elongate convex side surfaces 12-3 a, 12-3 b prevent the cord EC from assuming a coiled shape memory so that when unwound from the device 10, the cord EC will be relatively straight and disentangled.

It will be understood that various modifications within the skill of those in the art may be envisioned. Therefore, while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical cord organization and storage device comprising: a central body ring having a generally U-shaped cross-section which establishes a concave cradle to receiving an electrical cord therein, wherein the central body ring includes an opposed pair of radiused end surfaces and an opposed pair of convexly curved side surfaces having ends jointed to the end surfaces, and wherein the central body ring defines a central opening having a generally symmetrical oblong, oval or elliptical shape.
 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a support panel positioned near one of the radiused end surfaces and extending into the central opening of the central body ring.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the support panel includes a notch to receive a supporting protuberance.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the notch is V-shaped.
 5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed planar flange walls attached to opposite sides of the central body ring.
 6. The device according to claim 6, wherein each of the planar flange walls includes a smoothly rounded edge bead around an outer perimetrical edge thereof.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the central body ring includes a cut-out region to allow a length of the electrical cord to extend therethrough.
 8. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of opposed planar flange walls attached to opposite sides of the central body ring.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the planar flange walls includes a smoothly rounded edge bead around an outer perimetrical edge thereof.
 10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the support panel is integrally molded with a respective one of the flange walls.
 11. A one piece device for organizing and storing a length of electrical cord would in a coil thereon, wherein the device comprises: a central body ring having a generally U-shaped cross-section which establishes a concave cradle to receive an electrical cord therein, wherein the central body ring includes (i) an opposed pair of radiused end surfaces and (ii) an opposed pair of convexly curved side surfaces having ends joined to the end surfaces, wherein the radiused end surfaces and the convexly curved side surface together define a central opening having a generally symmetrical oblong or elliptical shape; a pair of opposed planar flange walls attached to opposite sides of the central body ring; and a planar support panel integral with positioned near one of the radiused end surfaces and extending into the central opening of the central body ring, the support panel including a notch to receive a protuberance therein; wherein the central body ring, the flange walls and the support panel are integrally molded together.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the notch is V-shaped
 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein each of the planar flange walls includes a smoothly rounded edge bead around an outer perimetrical edge thereof
 14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the central body ring includes a cut-out region to allow a length of the electrical cord to extend therethrough. 